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Letter: Ideas for old Penticton BMX track

It would be nice to have something the largest demographic surrounding the area would enjoy and use
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Penticton Western News letters to the editor.

If the area where the BMX track in Lions Park is to be repurposed, it would be nice to have something that the largest demographic surrounding the area would enjoy and use.

We have a playground for young ones and ball fields for young and middle aged. How about something that would also be used by seniors? This might go a long way to assuage the deep feeling of anger toward city hall for allowing the Kinney Street towers to be built. The very last thing we need is for the city to sell that piece of land to a developer for another condo. Mayor Jakubeit and planning manager Blake Laven have assured me that would not happen and I will hold them to their word. Here are three ideas that people have discussed.

1. A community garden with raised beds (maybe seven feet by four feet by three feet high). That would allow seniors easy access without bending over too much. The school nearby might also want to have a box or two to expand their garden project. This BMX area is already fenced but the fence needs a few repairs. Access could be made available with a coded keypad.

2. A rose garden with a gazebo and benches like the one by LocoLanding. Open up the area and make it easily accessible from Lion’s Park. That would include running a path through Athens Creek from Lions Park to Atkinson Street. It is no longer accessible because the Athens Creek development fenced off the pathway. It is probably fenced off for security reasons, but I believe that pathway is on park land and the path through Athens Creek is lovely and shady in the summer. However, there is a problem with the homeless who set up camp there.

3. An exercise circuit with various pieces of exercise equipment at different stations similar to the one at Skaha Lake Park.

All of these suggestions would be useable by anyone but importantly would be useable by seniors. And, they would be quiet uses of the land. If you agree with these suggestions please contact City Parks and Recreation and let them know what you want in the area. There will be an open discussion next year on what to do with this area. Let your voice be heard.

Kathy Corbett

Penticton